Ling’s POV

I woke up at my desk. I must’ve fallen asleep after Sehun left my room last night. With a long yawn, I made my way downstairs and to the kitchen for breakfast. To my surprise, Xiumin was already there. He was asleep on the counter with a cup of coffee sitting beside him. Attached to the mug was a small note with carefully printed letters. I strained my neck to read it, struggling slightly to remember my Korean letters.

Ling,
I know you have to leave early today, so here’s that special cup of coffee to kick start your morning.
Minseok.

I smiled and took the mug with a whisper of thanks. As I was about to pull my hand away, Xiumin stirred in his sleep.

“Ling?” His voice was a low rumble, but he didn’t open his eyes. I stood there staring at him, worried that I may have disturbed his sleep.

“Ling, you shouldn’t have left.”

His words pierced me with guilt, leaving me lost for words. Xiumin’s mumbling came to a halt and he resumed his sleep. I could see the dark circles under his eyes that were more prominent then when I saw him at the airport.

He must’ve been exhausted.

I brought the coffee to my lips, letting the bitter-sweet taste envelope my taste buds. It was a familiar taste, and yet, I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was that made it special. One thing I knew for sure, it was definitely the best coffee I had ever had.

My manager came to pick me up soon after. On the way to the office, we ran into a familiar face.

“Ling!”

I turned around and my eyes landed on a neatly dressed guy that strangely resembled-

“Nam Soon!”

“Gabby told me about everything, I’m glad you still remember me.”

I chuckled. “Not when you were dressed so nicely.”

He paused, nodded and ruffled my hair. “Take your time alright? There’s no rush for your memories.”

I looked down, remembering Sehun and Xiumin’s behaviour. There was definitely a rush, maybe not from him, but from the members.

“I have to go meet up with EXO, I’ll see you around.” Nam Soon pushed past me, waving.

“EXO?”

He chuckled feeling kind of embarrassed. “I’m working as their assistant manager.”

I widened my eyes. “Really?”

He nods, slowly inching away from me. “Sorry, we’ll meet up soon, alright?”

I watched his fading figure walk down the hallway. Despite knowing Nam Soon for so long, I couldn’t help but feel strangely detached from him at that moment.

So much has changed, was that part of my memories too?

-----
Xiumin’s POV

There was a blanket over me when I opened my eyes. I looked over at the members rushing around the living room, wondering who must’ve put it on me. My eyes rested on the empty mug beside me and the note I had written for Ling. On the backside, I could see her familiar writing.

Thank you Minseok. It was delicious. Good luck on your schedule today!
Ling.

I couldn’t help but let a broad smile stretch across my lips. It has been a while since I last made coffee for her and I wasn`t sure how well it turned out. I’m glad she enjoyed it.

Eventually, Nam Soon came to pick us up. He pulled me aside as the members were piling into the vans. Luhan paused and glanced in our direction, biting his lip before following after Tao into the car.

Nam Soon looked at me with a worried expression. “You alright? I bumped into Ling today.”

“I’m fine.” I muttered, avoiding his eyes. Or I wish I was.

There was a moment of silence as he studied my expression. I could tell he was worried, but I was not in the mood to talk to him, to anyone for that matter. Surprisingly, with everything that’s been going on in my head the past few days, I have not once thought it would be a good idea for me to talk to someone about it.

As we drove to the office, I stared out into the streets. Familiar sceneries pass by almost like a movie, reminding me of scenes from the past. Scenes with Ling. There, there was where Ling and I ate together, and there was where we walked that night.

My heart shook and I had to hold my hands to my head to support myself. My head was spinning now and everything around me was a blur. If I’m the only one that remembers this, can they still be considered memories?

“Hyung,” Chen ducked his head to meet my eyes. “Are you-”

I waved him away before he finished and looked at the back of Luhan’s head. He was chatting with Suho excitedly as if nothing was wrong. What was he thinking right now? Is he not in pain at all?

Was I the only one who was suffering?

-----
Ling’s POV

After I finished my meeting with the actor coordinator at SM, I headed towards the director’s office for a group meeting about the filming of Life with EXO. My manager agreed to meet me at the cafeteria after my meeting and so, I headed to the office myself.

No one was there when I arrived. The light in the small room was off and the door didn’t budge when I pulled on it. I cupped my hand against the glass window and peeked inside, worried that I may have gone to the wrong room.

“What are you doing?” An emotionless and deep voice caught me by surprise and I spun around to face it.

The looming figure of Kris from EXO-m stood before me with his hands in the pocket of his long black coat. He was alone.

“I- I was just-”

He pushed aside before I could finish, making me almost trip over my own feet. I watched him do the same thing I did.

“Why is the door locked?” He spun on me and I blinked at him.

“E-excuse me?”

“Why is the door locked?” He repeated himself, this time, his voice dripping with annoyance. “Don’t you work here?”

“I’m here for the meeting.” I almost spat back but restrained myself. He may have been rude, but he was still my senior. “When I came, the door was already locked.”

He stared at me, not comprehending what I had just said.

I felt a need to clarify. “The door was already-”

“I know.” He held up a hand signalling for me to stop.

I scoffed and crossed my arms. Who does he think he is?

“Why are you here alone? Where are the other members?” I dropped my honorifics out of annoyance. Here stood a man that didn’t deserve them.

He glanced at me and raised an eyebrow. “Do I always have to be with the others? We’re not one you know.”

He turned back to the office and mumbled to himself. “Despite what they make you think.”

I shrugged. “Well, you did leave.”

He threw back his head and laughed hysterically. “I did, and I’m glad I did. The only thing I regret is not suing Young Min when I had the chance.”

I stared at him in disgust. How could he say such a thing to someone who’s clearly done so much for him?

I refrained from talking to him any more than I had to until the director came. He laughed at how early we arrived and the three of us waited in the office for the other members. One by one, they came filing in. Baekhyun and Lay fought for the seats beside me as Xiumin watched in the back. Our eyes locked and he gave me a weak smile before sitting across the table from me. He focused on the package of paper before him and avoided my eyes. He still looks tired.

Eventually, the only person that was absent was Sehun. The director was starting to get impatient and had started to yell at us about being tardy to meetings. The door to the office slammed open just as he was about to make us set our alarm clocks and Sehun walked in, pulling on the hand of a girl.

“Sorry I’m late.” He huffed as the girl next to him fixed her straight black hair to rest gingerly around her petite face. “Traffic was really bad.”

I stared at the girl, just as most of the other members did. She was pretty. Her skin was pale and smooth and her eyes seem to glimmer under the light of the room. Who, is she?

“Why did you bring her here?” Kai almost leapt out of his seat, slamming his hands on the table as he did.

Sehun put his arms protectively around her shoulders and the girl’s cheeks flushed red. “She wanted to come, she’s never seen my workplace before.”

“Who is she?” Baekhyun asked beside me.

Sehun’s smile widened as he pulled her closer to him. “My girlfriend.”

The girl bowed at us politely, her hair drooping to the ground. She looked up at us and her gaze fixed on mine.

“Hello, I’m Lee Eun Jae.” She flashed her white teeth at me. It felt like her introduction was directed only to me. “I’m Hunnie’s girlfriend.”

Notes

Author's Notes:
Just putting this here before I go off to my last exam! WOOT WOOT I'm almost free!!

Yeah so anyways~
Sehun has a girlfriend? But what about his feelings for Ling? Are they gone now?

Thanks for reading, and as always, enjoy the story!
Love you all!